STACKED OBJECT FEED-OUT APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FEEDING OUT STACKED OBJECTS

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to achieve increase in feed-out speed while having a freedom of selecting stacked objects from a wide range of objects by securing a stable separating and feed-out function of feeding out stacked objects one by one from a surface thereof. A stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 separates and feeds out the stacked paper sheets P from a paper sheet at a surface position to a business machine 9, the stacked paper sheets P stacked on a paper sheet housing member 1. The stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 includes: an electrostatic attraction belt 6 which is passed around a drive roller 7 and a driven roller 8 and in which multiple electrodes 28 are covered with an insulating layer 29; an electrostatic attraction control circuit 30 which is connected to the multiple electrodes 28, and which performs application of voltage and cutting of the applied voltage; an object feed-out mechanism 11 which feeds out by belt rotation a feed-out paper sheet Pa electrostatically attracted to a belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6; and an electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 which brings the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked paper sheets P close to or in contact with each other in the attraction and moves the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked paper sheets P away from each other in the feed-out by adjusting a relative gap between the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked paper sheets P.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a stacked object feed-out apparatus which feeds out stacked objects such as stacked paper sheets one by one by using electrostatic attraction force (=Coulomb force), and a method for feeding out stacked objects.

BACKGROUND ART

An apparatus described below is conventionally known as an example of the stacked object feed-out apparatus which feeds out stacked banknotes being an example of the stacked objects one by one. The apparatus includes: a picker roller which sends a single banknote from a housing portion to a feed-out opening; a feed-out roller which feeds out the single banknote from the housing portion; a separation roller disposed to face the feed roller; a guide block which is disposed to receive a back end of the stacked banknotes in the housing portion and which has multiple inclined surfaces (see Patent Literature 1, for example).

Moreover, an electrostatic attraction belt (or electrostatic holding belt) is known which electrostatically attracts a paper sheet with a voltage applied to an electrode pattern formed on the belt (see Patent Literatures 2 and 3, for example).

PRIOR ART LITERATURES

Patent Literatures

• Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 8-26497
• Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-46886
• Patent literature 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-319739

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problems

The stacked object feed-out apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 described above has the following structure. Resin rollers are used as the picker roller, the feed-out roller, and the separation roller. These resin rollers are rotated while being in contact with the surfaces of the banknotes, and the banknotes are fed out by using contact pressures of the resin rollers. In other words, stacked paper sheets are fed out one by one by a contact roller method which has problems listed below.

• (1) The contact pressures from the resin rollers are transmitted to the second and further paper sheets, and thus the second and further paper sheets are fed out simultaneously in some cases.
• (2) Paper sheets with a coating on one or both surfaces have a high friction resistance between two paper sheets in contact. Thus, when the first paper sheet is fed out, force acting in a feed-out direction occurs on the second and further paper sheet by the high friction resistance. Hence, simultaneous feed-out of multiple paper sheets occurs.
• (3) In the stacked paper sheets, an electrified charge commonly exists between the paper sheets. Existence of this charge causes multiple paper sheets to adhere to each other. Thus, when the first paper sheet is fed out, force acting in the feed-out direction occurs on the second and further paper sheet. Hence, simultaneous feed-out of multiple paper sheets occurs.

Accordingly, in the contact roller method, since there is a need to suppress the simultaneous feed-out to the minimum, selectable objects are limited to certain objects such as paper sheets with a low friction resistance. In addition, even if certain objects such as paper sheets with a low friction resistance are selected as the objects, the simultaneous feed-out of multiple paper sheets due to contact pressure, electrified charge, and the like cannot be surely avoided. Moreover, there is a problem that since a separation feed-out operation becomes more unstable as a feed-out speed is set to be higher, demands for increasing the feed-out speed could not be met.

Furthermore, the electrostatic attraction belts described in Patent Literatures 2 and 3 each have the following configuration. Two fixed rollers are set in a transport route for sending media such as paper sheets or films separated one by one in advance, and the electrostatic attraction belt is passed around these two fixed rollers. The electrostatic attraction belt only has a transport function of strongly electrostatically attracting the media and transporting them. Even if the electrostatic attraction belt is used instead of the resin rollers, a contact state is maintained between the electrostatic attraction belt and the stacked objects. Thus, a belt contact pressure acts on the stacked objects in this structure. Hence, like in the contact roller method, the simultaneous feed-out of multiple paper sheets occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a stacked object feed-out apparatus and a method for feeding out stacked objects which achieves increase in feed-out speed while having a freedom of selecting the stacked objects from wide range of objects by securing a stable separating and feed-out function of feeding out stacked objects one by one from a surface.

Solution to Problems

To achieve the aforementioned object, the present invention provides a stacked object feed-out apparatus which separates stacked objects stacked on a housing member from each other one by one from an object at a surface position and feeds out the stacked objects, the apparatus characterized in that the stacked object feed-out apparatus includes: an electrostatic attraction belt which is passed around a drive roller and a driven roller and in which a plurality of electrodes are covered with an insulating layer; an electrostatic attraction control circuit which is connected to the plurality of electrodes, which induces surface polarization on a surface of the object by applying a voltage, and which causes the surface of the object to return to an original state without the surface polarization by cutting the applied voltage; an object feed-out mechanism which feeds out by belt rotation a feed-out object electrostatically attracted to a belt holding surface of the electrostatic attraction belt; and a relative gap adjustment mechanism which brings the belt holding surface and the stacked objects close to or in contact with each other in the attraction and moves the belt holding surface and the stacked objects away from each other in the feed-out by adjusting a relative gap between the belt holding surface and the stacked objects.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

Accordingly, in the stacked object feed-out apparatus of the present invention, at the time of the electrostatic attraction of the object, the relative gap adjustment mechanism brings the belt holding surface relatively close to or in contact with the stacked objects, and thus only the single feed-out object is electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface by surface polarization. Then, at the time of feed-out of the object, the relative gap adjustment mechanism relatively moves the belt holding surface away from the stacked objects while the single feed-out object is electrostatically attracted. Thus, the single feed-out object is separated from the remaining stacked objects, and is fed out while maintaining a peeling effect between the single feed-out object and the remaining stacked objects. In other words, the use of the electrostatic attraction belt allows a wide range of objects such as conductive, semi-conductive, and insulating materials to be electrostatically attracted, as long as the objects induce surface polarization. Furthermore, the present invention uses the relative gap adjustment mechanism for the belt holding surface and the stacked objects. Thus, bringing the belt holding surface and the stacked objects relatively close to or in contact with each other in the electrostatic attraction allows an effect to be exhibited in which the single feed-out object is surely electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface by surface polarization. Moreover, moving away the single feed-out object electrostatically attracted in the feed-out from the remaining stacked objects allows effects of a belt contact pressure, electrified charge, and the like which are causes of simultaneous feed out to be canceled. Thus, stable separation feed-out operation can be exhibited.

As a result, the invention achieves increase in feed-out speed while having a freedom of selecting the stacked objects from a wide range of objects, by securing a stable separation feed-out function of feeding out the stacked objects one by one from a surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an entire schematic view showing a stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism, an object feeding mechanism and a variable stopper mechanism of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an electrostatic attraction belt and the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 4 is an enraged vertical cross-sectional view along A-A line of FIG. 3 which shows the electrostatic attraction belt of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 5 is an enraged horizontal cross-sectional view along B-B line of FIG. 4, which shows the electrostatic attraction belt of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram showing a feed-out control system of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of feed-out control processing executed by a feed-out controller of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining principle of generation of electrostatic attraction force by an electrostatic chuck.

FIG. 9 is a view explaining such characteristics of the electrostatic chuck that an object returns to an original state by cutting applied voltages.

FIG. 10 is a view explaining such characteristics of the electrostatic chuck that no dust near the chuck is attracted when the electrostatic attraction force is generated.

FIG. 11A is a view explaining a stand-by step in a method of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 11B is a view explaining an electrostatic attraction step in the method of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 11C is a view explaining an object separation step in the method of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 11D is a view explaining a peel-off feed-out step in the method of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 12A is an operation explanation view showing a control operation of feeding out stacked paper sheets in the stand-by which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 12B is an operation explanation view showing a control operation of feeding out stacked paper sheets at the time of attraction which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 12C is an operation explanation view showing a control operation of feeding out stacked paper sheets at the start of feeding-out which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 12D is an operation explanation view showing a control operation of feeding out stacked paper sheets during feeding-out which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

FIG. 13 is an overall schematic view showing a stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2.

FIG. 14 is a control block diagram showing a feed-out control system of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of feed-out control processing executed by a feed-out controller of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2.

FIG. 16A is a view explaining a stand-by step in a method of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2.

FIG. 16B is a view explaining an electrostatic attraction step in a method of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2.

FIG. 16C is a view explaining an object separation step in a method of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2.

FIG. 16D is a view explaining a peel-off feed-out step in a method of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2.

FIG. 17A is an operation explanation view showing a control operation of feeding out stacked paper sheets in the stand-by which is performed by a stacked object feed-out apparatus A3 of Example 3.

FIG. 17B is an operation explanation view showing a control operation of feeding out stacked paper sheets at the time of attraction which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A3 of Example 3.

FIG. 17C is an operation explanation view showing a control operation of feeding out stacked paper sheets at the start of feeding-out which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A3 of Example 3.

FIG. 17D is an operation explanation view showing a control operation of feeding out stacked paper sheets during feeding-out which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A3 of Example 3.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Best modes for achieving a stacked object feed-out apparatus and a method for feeding out stacked objects of the present invention will be described below based on Examples 1 to 3 shown in the drawings.

EXAMPLE 1

First, a configuration will be described.

FIG. 1 is an entire schematic view showing a stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1. A schematic configuration of the apparatus will be described below based on FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1 includes: a paper sheet housing tray 1 (housing member), a stopper plate 2, a paper sheet mounting stage 3, a paper-sheet-surface approximate-position detection sensor 4, a paper-sheet mounting stage lifting mechanism 5, an electrostatic attraction belt 6, a drive roller 7, a driven roller 8, and a business machine 9 (object processing apparatus).

The paper sheet housing tray 1 houses stacked paper sheets P (stacked objects) on the paper sheet mounting stage 3. The paper sheet housing tray 1 measures the upper-surface approximate-position of the stacked paper sheets P by using the non-contact type paper-sheet-surface approximate-position detection sensor 4 provided at a position of an upper portion of the paper sheet housing tray 1. The paper sheet housing tray 1 lifts the stacked paper sheets P by using the paper-sheet mounting stage lifting mechanism 5 so that the paper-sheet surface which is at a low position due to the feed-out is to be at a predetermined approximate-position.

The stopper plate 2 is provided in the paper sheet housing tray 1 in a feed-out end portion of the stacked paper sheets P, and prevents remaining stacked paper sheets Pb (remaining stacked objects) from being fed out when a feed-out paper sheet Pa (feed-out object) is fed out.

The electrostatic attraction belt 6 is a feed-out device for the stacked paper sheets P which is passed around the drive roller 7 and the driven roller 8 and in which a belt holding surface 6a is set at a position facing an end portion region of the stacked paper sheets P on the feed-out side. The electrostatic attraction belt 6 sequentially separates the stacked paper sheets P stacked on the paper sheet housing tray 1 from each other one by one from a feed-out paper sheet Pa at a surface position, and feeds out the stacked paper sheets P to the business machine 9 being an example of an object processing device to which the stacked paper sheets are sent.

The business machine 9 receives the feed-out paper sheet Pa separated one by one from the stacked paper sheets P and fed out, and is a machine such as a printer, a scanner, a copying machine or the like which performs processing such as printing on each feed-out paper sheet Pa while transporting the feed-out paper sheet Pa inside the machine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism, an object feeding mechanism and a variable stopper mechanism of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1. The configuration of each mechanism will be described below based on FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1 includes: an electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 (relative gap adjustment mechanism) as a moving mechanism, an object feeding mechanism 11 and a variable stopper mechanism 12 (stopper mechanism).

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 is configured by including a link member 13, rotation shafts 14, a rotation gear plate 15, a motor gear 16, and a rotation motor 17.

The electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 is a relative gap adjustment mechanism which adjusts a relative gap between the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked paper sheets P. In Example 1, a mechanism which causes the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 to move upward and downward with respect to the paper sheet housing tray 1 set at a fixed position is used as the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10.

Specifically, a rotation axis CL is set which is parallel to roller shafts of both rollers 7 and 8 and which located at a position opposite to the feed-out direction, and the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is swung upward and downward by the rotation link member 13 which rotatably supports the both ends of each of the rollers 7, 8. Then, the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 moves upward while a single feed-out paper sheet Pa is electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a. Thus, the belt holding surface 6a is moved away from the stacked paper sheets P while being inclined with respect to the stacked paper sheets P. Accordingly, the single feed-out paper sheet Pa having an inclined angle upward with respect to the feed-out direction is separated from the remaining stacked paper sheets Pb.

The rotation link member 13 includes first rotation links 13a, second rotation links 13b, and stopper holes 13c (angle restriction structure). The first rotation links 13a are rotatable about the rotation axis CL and rotatably support both ends of the drive roller 7 at a roller shaft 7a. The second rotation links 13b are rotatable about the roller shaft 7a of the drive roller 7, and rotatably supports both ends of the driven roller 8 at a roller shaft 8a. The stopper holes 13c are respectively opened in the first rotation links 13a to have a partial are shape, and the roller shaft 8a of the driven roller 8 is inserted therein.

In each of the first rotation link 13a, a rotation shaft 14 rotatably supported by a device frame 18 is provided at a position of the rotation axis CL. To one end of the rotation shaft 14, a rotation gear plate 15 is provided which mesh with a motor gear 16 provided to a motor shaft of the rotation motor 17. In other words, the first rotation link 13a is rotated upward and downward in accordance with a rotation drive direction of the rotation motor 17.

The second rotation link 13b is rotatable about the roller shaft 7a of the drive roller 7 within an angle range restricted by the stopper holes 13c.

The stopper holes 13c are angle restriction structures which restrict a link angle formed by the first rotation links 13a and the second rotation links 13b within a set angle range.

At positions in an area around the stopper holes 13c of the first rotation link 13a, a contact start detection switch 19 (contact state detector) and a contact end detection switch 20 (contact state detector) are provided which detect a contact state between the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked paper sheets P from a change in the link angle formed by the first rotation link 13a and the second rotation link 13b.

The contact start detection switch 19 is provided on a lower side of the stopper hole 13c, and detects start of a contact with the stacked paper sheets P when ON signal changes to OFF signal, which occurs when the roller shaft 8a of the driven roller 8 moves upward in FIG. 2 from the lower end of the stopper hole 13c due to start of the contact with the stacked paper sheets P.

The contact end detection switch 20 is provided on the upper side of the stopper hole 13c, and detects end of the contact with the stacked paper sheets P by when OFF signal changes to ON signal, which occurs when the roller shaft 8a of the driven roller 8 reaches an upper end of the stopper hole 13c due to a total contact with the stacked paper sheets P.

As shown in FIG. 2, the object feed-out mechanism 11 is configured by including a roller-side pulley 21, a motor-side pulley 22, a belt 23, and a feed-out drive motor 24. The object feed-out mechanism 11 is a mechanism which rotates the electrostatic attraction belt 6 while the feed-out paper sheet Pa is electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6.

In other words, by rotationally driving the feed-out drive motor 24 in one direction, a rotational driving force is transmitted to the drive roller 7 via both the pulleys 21, 22 and the belt 23, and thus the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is rotated.

As shown in FIG. 2, the variable stopper mechanism 12 is configured by including the stopper plate 2, a rack gear 25, a pinion gear 26, and a stopper plate drive motor 27. The variable stopper mechanism 12 is a mechanism which cancels a stopper function by lowering the stopper plate 2 provided at the feed-out end portion of the stacked papers P in the paper sheet housing tray 1 when the electrostatic attraction of the feed-out paper sheet Pa is performed, and which exhibits an stopper function of preventing feed out of the remaining stacked paper sheets Pd by raising the stopper plate 2 at least in a period from a feed-out start to a feed-out end of the feed-out paper sheet Pa.

In other words, a rotating movement of the stopper plate drive motor 27 is converted into a linear movement of the stopper plate 2 via the rack gear 25 and the pinion gear 26. Thus, the stopper plate 2 is lowered by rotating the stopper plate drive motor 27 in one direction, and is raised by rotating the stopper plate drive motor 27 in the opposite direction.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the electrostatic attraction belt and the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1. FIG. 4 is an enraged vertical cross-sectional view along A-A line of FIG. 3, which shows the electrostatic attraction belt of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1. FIG. 5 is an enraged horizontal cross-sectional view along B-B line of FIG. 4, which shows the electrostatic attraction belt of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1. The configuration of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 will be described below based on FIG. 3 to FIG. 5.

The electrostatic attraction belt 6 is passed around the drive roller 7 and the driven roller 8 as shown in FIG. 3, and is formed by covering multiple electrodes 28 with an insulating layer 29 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the multiple electrodes 28 are polarized in a manner that positive electrodes 28a and negative electrodes 28b are disposed alternately, and are set to have a combined electrode pattern with a constant width insulating layer 29 having a smooth wave shape between each two adjacent electrodes. This electrode pattern shape allows a strong electrostatic field to be formed between electrode surfaces and an attracting surface by surface polarization, by applying only a low voltage. Thus, a strong electrostatic attraction force can be induced.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the insulating layer 29 covers the entire circumference of the multiple electrodes 28 to have the electrodes 28 built therein. The insulating layer 29 has such flexibility that the layer deforms flexibly, and is formed of a synthetic resin (such as, polyimide, for example) which is suitable as a belt material in terms of durability, reliability, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the multiple electrodes 28 are connected to an electrostatic attraction control circuit 30. The electrostatic attraction control circuit 30 and the electrodes 28 are connected to each other by a lead line 31, slip rings 32a, 32b, and power supply rings 33a, 33b. The lead line 31 has its one end portion connected to the electrostatic attraction control circuit 30 and its other end inserted in the roller shaft 7a of the drive roller 7. The slip rings 32a, 32b are connected to the lead line 31, and are rings which are provided along a roller surface of the drive roller 7 in a protruding manner and which have a divided structure. The power supply rings 33a, 33b are provided on an inner surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 in a manner exposed, and apply voltages to the positive electrodes 28a and the negative electrodes 28b by being brought into contact with the slip rings 32a, 32b.

The electrostatic attraction control circuit 30 induces surface polarization on a surface of the feed-out paper sheet Pa being the object by applying predetermined voltages to the multiple electrodes 28, and causes the feed-out paper sheet Pa being the object to return to a state without the surface polarization by cutting the voltages applied to the multiple electrodes 28.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram showing a feed-out control system of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1. The configuration of the feed-out control system will be described below based on FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the feed-out control system of Example 1 includes a main switch 34, a feed-out start switch 35, a sheet number setting unit 36, the contact start detection switch 19, the contact end detection switch 20, a sensor 9b which detects arrival or send out of the stacked objects at delivery rollers 9a (see FIG. 1), a feed-out controller 37, motor drivers 38, 39, 40, the rotation motor 17, the feed-out drive motor 24, the stopper plate drive motor 27, the electrostatic attraction control circuit 30, the electrodes 28, and a dedicated power supply 41.

The feed-out controller 37 performs arithmetic processing in accordance with a set control program, on the basis of input information from the main switch 34, the feed-out start switch 35, the sheet number setting unit 36, the contact start detection switch 19, the contact end detection switch 20, the sensor 9b, and the like. Then, a control instruction in accordance with the operation result is outputted to the motor drivers 38, 39, 40 and the electrostatic attraction control circuit 30. Thus, a drive control of the rotation motor 17, the feed-out drive motor 24, and the stopper plate drive motor 27, and a control of voltage application and cancel of voltage application to the electrodes 28 are performed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of feed-out control processing executed by the feed-out controller 37 in the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1. Steps in FIG. 7 are described below.

In Step S1-1, it is judged whether the feed-out start switch 35 is turned ON after the main switch 34 is operated to be ON. In a case of YES (feed start switch ON), the processing proceeds to Step S1-2, and in a case of NO (feed start switch OFF), the judgment of Step S1-1 is repeated.

In Step S1-2, the paper sheet mounting stage 3 is lifted by the paper-sheet mounting stage lifting mechanism 5, and the processing proceeds to Step S1-3. In Step S1-3, it is judged whether the height level of the paper sheet surface has approximately reached a predetermined height level by using the paper-sheet-surface approximate-position detection sensor 4. In a case of YES, the processing proceeds to Step S2, and in a case of NO, the processing returns to Step S1-2.

Subsequent to the judgment that the height level of the paper-sheet surface has approximately reached the predetermined height level in Step S1-3, or to a judgment that contact with the stacked paper sheets is not detected in Step S3, in Step S2, an instruction to lower the rotation link member 13 and the stopper plate 2 is outputted to the rotation motor 17 and the stopper plate drive motor 27. Then, the processing proceeds to Step S3.

Note that, the lifted positions of the rotation link member 13 and the stopper plate 2 are set to the initial setting positions thereof in the stand-by.

Subsequent to the output of the instruction to lower the rotation link member 13 and the stopper plate 2 in Step 2, in Step 3, it is judged whether the switch signal from the contact start detection switch 19 switches from ON signal to OFF signal and also whether the switch signal from the contact end detection switch 20 changes from OFF signal to ON signal. In a case of YES (contact with the stacked paper sheets is detected), the processing proceeds to Step S4-1, and in a case of NO (contact with the stacked paper sheets is not detected), the processing returns to Step S2.

Subsequent to the judgment that the contact with the stacked paper sheets P is detected in Step S3, in Step S4-1, an instruction to apply voltages to the multiple electrodes 28 is outputted. Then, the processing proceeds to Step S4-2.

In Step S4-2, it is judged whether the elapse of time after the voltages are applied to the electrodes has exceeded a set predetermined time. In a case of YES, the processing proceeds to Step S5, and in a ease of NO, Step S4-2 is repeated.

Subsequent to the judgment that the attraction set time has elapsed in Step S4-2 or to a judgment that a drive pulse number<a first set value in Step S6, an instruction to lift the rotation link member 13 and the stopper plate 2 is outputted to the rotation motor 17 and the stopper plate drive motor 27. Then, the processing proceeds to Step S6.

Subsequent to the output of the instruction to lift the rotation link member 13 and the stopper plate 2 in Step S5, in Step S6, it is judged whether the drive pulse number outputted to the rotation motor 17 and the stopper plate drive motor 27 is equal to or larger than the first set value (value at which the rotation link member 13 and the stopper plate 2 reach the upper limit position). In a case of YES (drive pulse number≧the first set value), the processing proceeds to Step S7, and in a case of NO (drive pulse number<the first set value), the processing returns to Step S5.

Subsequent to the judgment that the drive pulse number≧the first set value in Step S6, or to a judgment that the sensor 9b is not switched from OFF to ON, in Step S7, an instruction to stop the first rotation links 13 and the stopper plate 2 is outputted. In addition, a roller drive instruction to rotate the feed-out roller 7 is outputted to the feed-out drive motor 24. Then, the processing proceeds to step S8.

In Step S8, whether the paper sheet has entered a position between the delivery rollers 9a is detected by the sensor 9b. In a case of YES, the processing proceeds to Step S9-1, and in a case of NO, the processing returns to Step S7.

In Step S9-1, an instruction to continue rotational drive of the feed-out roller 7 is outputted, and an instruction to cut the voltages applied to the electrodes 28 is outputted. Then, the processing proceeds to Step S9-2. In Step S9-1, the paper sheet has entered the position between the delivery rollers 9a, and is continuously fed out by the delivery rollers 9a rotationally driven by an unillustrated rotational drive motor. At this lime, a linear speed of the feed-out roller 7 and the delivery rollers 9a are not always equal. Thus, in order to reduce a fiction between the paper sheet being fed out and the belt holding surface 6a, the voltages applied to the electrodes 28 are cut while the rotational drive of the feed-out roller 7 is continued.

In Step S9-2, whether the paper sheet has passed the position between the delivery rollers 9a is detected by the sensor 9b. In a case of YES, the processing proceeds to Step S9-3, and in a case of NO, the processing repeats Step S9-2.

In Step S9-3, the rotational drive of the feed-out roller 7 is stopped. Then, the processing proceeds to Step S10.

In Step S10, a feed-out paper sheet count number n is obtained by adding 1 to the previous feed-out paper sheet count number n. Then, the processing proceeds to Step S11.

Subsequent to the calculation of the feed-out paper sheet count number n in Step S10, in Step S11, it is judged whether the feed-out paper sheet count number n is equal to or larger than a set sheet number value no. In a case of YES (n≧no), the processing proceeds to an end, and in a case of NO (n<no), the processing proceeds to Step S1-2.

The set sheet number value no when the feed-out start switch is simply pressed is no=1 (initial value). When the set sheet number value no is set by the sheet number setting unit 36, the value thereof is that set by the operation.

Next, operations will be described.

Firstly, “Principle of Generation of Electrostatic Attraction Force by Electrostatic Chuck and Characteristics of Electrostatic Chuck” will be described. Subsequently, the operation of stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1 will be described.

[Principle of Generation of Electrostatic Attraction Force by Electrostatic Chuck and Characteristics of Electrostatic Chuck]

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining principle of generation of electrostatic attraction force by an electrostatic chuck. FIG. 9 is a view explaining such characteristics of the electrostatic chuck that an object returns to an original state by cutting applied voltages. FIG. 10 is a view explaining such characteristics of the electrostatic chuck that no dust near the chuck is attracted when the electrostatic attraction force is generated. schematic configuration of the apparatus will be described below based on FIG. 1. The principle of generation of electrostatic attraction force by an electrostatic chuck and the characteristics of the electrostatic chuck will be described below based on FIG. 8 to FIG. 10.

The electrostatic attraction belt 6 used in Example 1 is an example of “electrostatic chuck” which electrostatically attracts an object by Coulomb force. The principle of generation of electrostatic attraction force by this “electrostatic chuck” is as follows. As shown in FIG. 8, when the voltages are applied to the electrodes, surface polarization is induced on the surface of the object. Here, negative surface polarization is induced in surface portions of the object which face the electrode portions applied to positive voltage. In addition, negative surface polarization is induced in surface portions of the object which face the electrode portions applied to negative voltage. Moreover, an electrostatic field is formed between electrode surfaces and the object surface by an are shaped flow from the positive electrode to negative electrode via the surface of the object. This electrostatic field generates the electrostatic attraction force which attracts the object to a surface of the insulating layer.

The characteristics of this “electrostatic chuck” are as follows.

(1) Acts on Wide Range of Objects

Specifically, the object may be any of conductive, semi-conductive, and insulating materials. Moreover, an object with holes (such as a printed board with holes) may also be the object of electrostatic attraction.

(2) Attracts Only One Sheet on Topmost Layer of Stacked Objects

Specifically, the electrostatic attraction force is generated by inducing surface polarization on the surface of the object. Thus, the electrostatic attraction force does not act on the second and further stacked objects.

(3) Electrostatic Attraction Force Acts Evenly on Entire Surface of Object

Specifically, the positive and negative electrodes are disposed alternately in a pattern which is well-balanced in every direction. Thus, the evenness of electrostatic attraction force is secured. Moreover, by this evenness of electrostatic attraction force, a wrinkle is not created in the object even lithe object is thin.

(4) Charge is not Supplied to Object

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, application of a low voltage induces the electrostatic attraction force caused by the surface polarization of the object. Thus, the object returns to an original state when the applied voltage is cut.

(5) Dose not Attract Dust Nearby

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, a surface potential occurs on a surface of the object which faces the insulating layer, but potential does not occur on a back surface of the object. Accordingly, dust nearby is not attracted onto the back surface of the object.

[Method of Feeding out Stacked Paper Sheets]

FIG. 11 are views explaining a method of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1. FIG. 11A is a view explaining a stand-by step. FIG. 11B is a view explaining an electrostatic attraction step. FIG. 11C is a view explaining an object separation step. FIG. 11D is a view explaining a peel-off feed-out step. The method of feeding out stacked paper sheets will be described below based on FIG. 11.

In the method of feeding out stacked paper sheets of Example 1, the stacked paper sheets P stacked on the paper sheet housing tray 1 are separated one by one from a paper sheet at the surface, and are fed out to the business machine 9 being the object processing apparatus. In the method, the electrostatic attraction belt 6 which is passed around the drive roller 7 and the driven roller 8 and in which the multiple electrodes 28 are covered with the insulating layer 29 is used as a device for feeding out stacked paper sheets P. The method includes a stand-by step, an electrostatic attraction step, an object separation step, and a peel-off feed-out step. The steps are described below.

(Stand-By Step)

As shown in FIG. 11A, in the stand-by step, the voltages applied to the multiple electrodes 28 are cut, and the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is relatively inclined with respect to the stacked paper sheets P and separated therefrom. At this time, the stopper plate 2 is set at the uppermost position.

(Electrostatic Attraction Step)

In the electrostatic attraction step, the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is swung downward from an inclined separation position. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11B, the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is brought into contact with the stacked paper sheets P. Then, the voltages are applied to the multiple electrodes 28. Thus, only the single feed-out paper sheet Pa is electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a by the surface polarization. At this time, the stopper plate 2 is lowered to a low position to avoid interference with the electrostatic attraction belt 6.

(Object Separation Step)

In the object separation step, the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is swung upward while electrostatically attracting the single feed-out paper sheet Pa. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11C, the single feed-out paper sheet Pa is separated from the remaining stacked paper sheets Pb at an interface S in the inclined separation having an inclined angle θ being upward with respect to the feed-out direction. At this time, the stopper plate 2 is lifted again and returns to the uppermost position.

(Peel-Off Feed-Out Step)

In the peel-off feed-out step, the drive roller 7 is rotated while the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is inclined with respect to the remaining stacked paper sheets Pb and separated therefrom. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11D, the single feed-out paper sheet Pa electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is fed while being peeled from the remaining stacked paper sheets Pb through a continuous peeling effect occurring at the interface S between the single feed-out object Pa and the remaining stacked sheets Pb, the interface S having the inclined angle θ. At this time, the stopper plate 2 remains set at the uppermost position.

[Feed-Out Control Operation of Stacked Paper Sheets]

FIGS. 12A to 12D are operation explanation views showing a control operation of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1. FIG. 12A shows the state of stand-by. FIG. 12B shows the state of attraction. FIG. 12C shows the state of the start of feeding-out. FIG. 12D shows the state during feeding-out. The control operation of feeding out stacked paper sheets will be described below based FIG. 7 and FIG. 12.

In the feed-out control of stacked objects of Example 1, processing proceeds from Step S1 to Step S2 and then to Step S3 in the flowchart of FIG. 7 when the feed-out start switch 35 is turned ON. Then, until it is judged YES in Step S3, a flow from Steps S2 to S3 is repeated.

Specifically, from a position of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 shown in FIG. 12A, the rotation link member 13 and the stopper plate 2 are lowered until total contact of the belt holding surface 6a with a surface of the topmost paper sheet of the stacked paper sheets P is detected.

Then, when the total contact of the belt holding surface 6a with the surface of the topmost paper sheet of the stacked paper sheets P is detected, the processing proceeds from Step S3 to Step S4 in the flowchart of FIG. 7. Then, application of voltages to the multiple electrodes 28 is started from the point where the belt holding surface 6a is brought to total contact with the surface of the topmost paper sheet of the stacked paper sheets P.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12B, the application of voltages to the multiple electrodes 28 induces surface polarization on the single feed-out paper sheet Pa caused by an electrostatic field from the belt holding surface 6a, and a potential difference occurs between the belt holding surface 6a and the single feed-out paper sheet Pa. Thus, the single feed-out paper sheet Pa is electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a by an even and powerful force.

Then, when the application of voltages to the multiple electrodes 28 is started, the processing proceeds from Step. S4 to Step S5, and then to Step S6 in the flowchart of FIG. 7. A flow proceeding from Step S5 to Step S6 is repeated until it is judged Yes in Step S6. Then, the instruction to lift the rotation link member 13 and the stopper plate 2 is outputted.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12C, lifting the electrostatic attraction belt in an inclined manner while the single feed-out paper sheet Pa is electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a causes the belt contact pressure not to be transmitted to the second and further remaining stacked paper sheets Pb.

Moreover, even if an electrified charge occurs between the first feed-out paper sheet Pa and the second and further remaining stacked paper sheets Pb, the electrified charge is pulled toward the electrostatic field of the belt holding surface 6a. Accordingly, the charge between two paper sheets below the electrostatic attraction belt 6 moves to a position between the electrostatic attraction belt 6 and the first feed-out paper sheet Pa. Thus, charge attraction between the two paper sheets is canceled in an area directly below the belt holding surface 6a (see FIG. 11C). As shown in FIG. 12C, when the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is lifted in this state, the two paper sheets directly below the belt holding surface 6a are orderly separated from each other.

When the lifting movement of the first feed-out paper sheet Pa electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a is completed, the processing proceeds from Step S6 to Step S7 and then to Step S8 in the flowchart of FIG. 7. Then, a flow proceeding from Step S7 to Step S8 is repeated until it is judged YES in Step S8. Then, the roller drive instruction is outputted.

Specifically, the first feed-out paper sheet Pa electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a is fed to the business machine 9 being the object processing apparatus by roller drive. However, when the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is rotated in a state shown in FIG. 12C, a tensile force occurs in the first feed-out paper sheet Pa in a traveling direction of the belt holding surface 6a. This operation force (=tensile force) is concentrated at the interface S when the force is to be transmitted to the rear side of the feed-out paper sheet Pa, due to existence of the inclined angle θ which is upward with respect to the feed-out direction. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 12D, the single feed-out paper sheet Pa is sequentially fed out while maintaining an interface shape having the inclined angle θ being upward with respect to the feed-out direction at the interface S, and thus the first paper sheet Pa is peeled from the second paper sheet Pb (peeling). Hence, even paper sheets with a high surface friction force such as coating paper sheets can be surely separated one by one.

As described above, in Example 1, the electrostatic attraction is performed by bringing the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 in contact with the topmost surface of the stacked paper sheets P. Then, the belt contact pressure is released. Furthermore, the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is lifted and inclined by the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 so that the inclined angle θ being upward with respect to the feed-out direction is formed with respect to the stacked paper sheets P for effective peeling.

In other words, the use of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 allows electrostatic attraction of a wide range of objects such as conductive, semi-conductive, and insulating materials, as long as the objects induce surface polarization. Moreover, the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 is used which swings the belt holding surface 6a upward and downward with respect to the stacked paper sheets P. Accordingly, by bringing the belt holding surface 6a in contact with the stacked paper sheets P in the electrostatic attraction, an operation is exhibited in which the single feed-out paper sheet Pa is surely electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a by surface polarization. Moreover, effects of the belt contact pressure, the electrified charge, and the like which cause simultaneous feed-out are canceled by causing the single teed-out paper sheet Pa electrostatically attracted to be inclined with respect to the remaining stacked paper sheets Pb and separated therefrom in the feed-out. Thus, a stable separation feed-out operation can be exhibited.

Thus, as described above, the stable separation feed-out operation is exhibited regardless of the feed-out speed being fast or slow, and a demand for increase in feed-out speed can be thus met. In Example 1, the feed-out control is performed by performing the voltage application control and the motor drive control which use switch signals as triggers. Thus, for example, the feed-out speed can be increased by using servo motors having a high response speed for the rotation motor 17, the feed-out drive motor 24, and the stopper plate drive motor 27. Note that, since the rotation motor 17 and the stopper plate drive motor 27 perform upward and downward operations at the same liming, one common motor can be used as the rotation motor 17 and the stopper plate drive motor 27.

In Example 1, the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 which is attached to the electrostatic belt 6 and swings is used as the relative gap adjustment mechanism which causes the belt holding surface 6a and the topmost surface of the stacked paper sheets P to come close or move away from each other.

Alternatively, as for the relative gap adjustment mechanism, a stacked object moving mechanism which moves the paper sheet mounting stage 3 upward and downward can be used instead of the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10. However, in a case of the stacked object moving mechanism, a burden is imposed on a drive system which reciprocatingly moves the paper sheet mounting stage 3 upward and downward at high speed, if there are several thousand stacked paper sheets P which are many and heavy.

On the other hand, in the case of the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 of Example 1 which swings upward and downward, only the electrostatic attraction belt 6 with a constant weight has to be swung upward and downward. In other words, the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 is effective in that the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 imposes a smaller burden to the chive system compared to the case of the stacked object moving mechanism, and is thus stable.

In Example 1, when the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is inclined with respect to the stacked paper sheets P and separated therefrom, the driven roller 8 hangs down due to its own weight, and the link angle is at the maximum angle. When the rotation link member 13 is lowered in this state and a contact between the belt holding surface 6a around the driven roller 8 and the stacked paper sheets P is started, the link angle tends to become smaller from the maximum angle. By detecting this, the contact start of the belt holding surface 6a with the stacked paper sheets P can be detected. Then, the link angle becomes the minimum angle when the rotation link member 13 is further lowered and the belt holding surface 6a is totally placed on the upper surface of the stacked paper sheets P. By detecting this, the total contact of the belt holding surface 6a with the stacked paper sheets P can be detected. In other words, in Example 1, an attention is given on a point that the link angle between the first rotation links 13a and the second rotation links 13b changes depending on the contact state. In this respect, the following configuration is employed. The contact of the belt holding surface 6a and the topmost surface of the stacked paper sheets P is detected by providing the contact start detection switch 19 and the contact end detection switch 20 at the positions which are in an area around the stopper hole 13c formed in the first rotation link 13a and which face the roller shaft 8a of the driven roller 8 supported by the second rotation links 13b.

As for the contact detector, for example, a gap sensor, a displacement sensor, or the like can be used to detect the gap between the belt holding surface 6a and the topmost surface of the stacked paper sheets P. However, in a case where the surface of the stacked paper sheets P is largely warped into an S-shape or the like, there may be a case where accurate measurement cannot be performed at some of measurement points.

On the other hand, in Example 1, the contact start detection switch 19 and the contact end detection switch 20 are used. Thus, an accurate detection can be performed on whether the belt holding surface 6a is in contact with the topmost surface of the stacked paper sheets P even if the surface of the stacked paper sheets P is deformed. In addition, the switches can be used which are low in cost, but are high in operation reliability and durability compared to the gap sensor or the like.

In Example 1, the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is in total contact with the feed-out end portion region of the stacked paper sheets Pin the attraction shown in FIG. 12B. At this time, if the stopper plate 2 is fixed, the stopper plate 2 interferes with the electrostatic attraction belt 6. In order to prevent this interference, the stopper plate 2 is set to be lowered in the attraction to a position where the interference can be avoided.

Meanwhile, during the feed-out shown in FIG. 12D, the that feed-out paper sheet Pa is peeled from the second and further stacked paper sheets Pb by the peeling. At this time, the stopper plate 2 is set to be higher than the surface of the second and further stacked paper sheets Pb, so that the second and further stacked paper sheets Pb do not move in the feed-out direction and is surely stopped in the feed-out.

As described above, in Example 1, the moveable stopper mechanism 12 is used while the belt holding surface 6a is disposed at a position facing the end portion region of the stacked paper sheet P on the feed-out side where a high separation performance and peeling performance can be exhibited. Thus, the interference with the electrostatic attraction belt 6 can be avoided in the attraction, and the second and further stacked paper sheets Pb are surely prevented from being fed out in the feed-out.

Next, effects will be described.

The effects described below can be obtained by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 of Example 1.

(1) A stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 which separates and feeds out stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) one by one from an object at a surface position to an object processing apparatus (business machine 9), the stacked objects being stacked on a housing member, the apparatus characterized in that the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 includes: an electrostatic attraction belt 6 which is passed around a drive roller 7 and a driven roller 8 and in which a plurality of electrodes 28 are covered with an insulating layer 29; an electrostatic attraction control circuit 30 which is connected to the plurality of electrodes 28, which induces surface polarization on a surface of each of the objects by applying a voltage, and which causes the surface of the object to return to an original state without the surface polarization by cutting the applied voltage; an object feed-out mechanism 11 which feeds out by belt rotation a feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) electrostatically attracted to a belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6; and a relative gap adjustment mechanism (electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10) which brings the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) close to or in contact with each other in the attraction and moves the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) away from each other in the feed-out by adjusting a relative gap between the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P). Thus, it is possible to provide the stacked object feed-out apparatus A1 which achieves increase in feed-out speed while having a freedom of selecting the stacked objects from a wide range of objects, by securing a stable separation feed-out function of feeding out the stacked objects one by one from a surface.

(2) The relative gap adjustment mechanism is an electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 which moves the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 upward and downward with respect to the housing member (paper sheet housing tray 1) set at a fixed position, and the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 causes a single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) to be electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a by a downward movement of bringing the belt holding surface 6a close to or in contact with the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P), and causes the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) to be separated from a remaining stacked object (remaining stacked paper sheet Pb) by an upward movement performed while the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) is electrostatically attracted.

Accordingly, compared to the case of using the stacked object moving mechanism as the relative gap adjustment mechanism, a burden imposed on the drive system is small and stable. Thus, the feed-out speed can be increased, and also the feed-out operation can be made stable.

(3) The electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 is a mechanism which has a rotation axis CL set parallel to, and at a position on a feed-out or opposite side, of roller shafts 7a, 8a of the two rollers 7, 8 and which swings the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 upward and downward by a rotation link member 13 rotatably supporting both ends of each of the two rollers 7, 8, and the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 causes the belt holding surface 6a to be inclined with respect to the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P), and separated therefrom by swinging the belt holding surface 6a upward while the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) is electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface, and thus separates the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) from the remaining stacked object (remaining stacked paper sheet Pb), the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) made to have an inclined angle θ upward with respect to the feed-out direction.

Thus, the peeling effect can be achieved in which the first feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) is separated from the remaining stacked objects (remaining stacked paper sheets Pb) and the peeling is performed while the operation force acting on both objects during the feed-out is minimized.

(4) The rotation link member 13 includes a first rotation link 13a which is rotatable about the rotation axis CL and which rotatably supports the drive roller 7, a second rotation link 13b which is rotatable about the roller shaft 7a of the drive roller 7 and which rotatably supports the driven roller 8, and an angle restricting structure (stopper hole 13c) which restricts a link angle formed by the first rotation link 13a and the second rotation link 13b within a set angle range, and the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 includes a contact state detector (contact start detection switch 19, contact end detection switch 20) for detecting a contact state between the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) from a change in the link angle formed by the first rotation link 13a and the second rotation link 13b.

Accordingly, even if the surface of the stacked paper sheets P is deformed, it can be accurately detected that the belt holding surface 6a is in contact with the topmost surface of the stacked paper sheets P. In addition, the switches can be used which are low in cost, but are high in operation reliability and durability compared to the deformation sensor or the like.

(5) The electrostatic attraction belt 6 is set such that the belt holding surface 6a is disposed at a position facing the end portion region of the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) on the feed-out side. The housing member (paper sheet housing tray 1) includes the moveable stopper mechanism 12 which is located at the feed-out end portion of the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P), which is canceled of the stopper function when the feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) is electrostatically attracted, and while exhibits the stopper function of preventing feed-out of the remaining stacked objects (remaining stacked paper sheets Pb) in at least a period from a feed-out start to a feed-out end of the object.

Accordingly, the belt holding surface 6a is disposed at such position to exhibit a high separation performance and peeling performance, and at the same time the movable stopper mechanism 12 can surely prevent the second and further stacked paper sheets Pb from being fed-out in the feed-out while avoiding interference with the electrostatic attraction belt 6 in the attraction.

(6) The stacked objects are the stacked paper sheets P stacked on the housing member (paper sheet housing tray 1), and the object processing apparatus is the business machine 9 which performs certain processing on a paper sheet separated from the stacked paper sheets P one by one and fed out.

Accordingly, the business machine 9 can be provided which has the stable separation feed-out function of surely separating a paper sheet from the stacked paper sheets P one by one and feeding out the paper sheet, and which also meets the demand for high speed processing.

(7) In the method of feeding out the stacked objects, the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) stacked on the housing member (paper sheet housing tray 1) are separated and fed out one by one from an object at the surface position. In this method, the electrostatic attraction belt 6 which is passed around the chive roller 7 and the driven roller 8 and in which the multiple electrodes 28 are covered with the insulating layer 29 is used as the feed-out device for the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P). The method includes the following steps. In the stand-by step, the voltages applied to the multiple electrodes 28 are cut, and the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) are relatively moved away from each other. In the electrostatic attraction step, the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) are made to come relatively close to or brought into contact with each other, and then the voltages are applied to the multiple electrodes 28 to electrostatically attract only a single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) to the belt holding surface 6a by surface polarization. In the object separation step, the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) are relatively moved away from each other to separate the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a from the remaining stacked objects (remaining stacked paper sheets Pb). In the peel-off and feed-out step, the single feed-out object (single feed-out paper sheet Pa) electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a is peeled from the remaining stacked objects (remaining stacked paper sheets Pb) and fed out by rotating the drive roller 7, while the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) are relatively is separated from each other.

Accordingly, a stable separation feed-out function in which the stacked objects are fed one by one from an object at surface is secured while maintaining a freedom of selecting the objects from a wide range of objects. Thus, a method of feeding out stacked objects can be provided which achieves increase in the feed-out speed.

(8) In the stand-by step, the voltages applied to the multiple electrodes 28 are cut, and the belt holding surface 6a is inclined with respect to the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) and separated therefrom. In the electrostatic attraction step, the belt holding surface 6a is brought in contact with the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) by swinging the belt holding surface 6a downward, and the voltages are applied to the multiple electrodes 28 to electrostatically attract only the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) to the belt holding surface 6a by surface polarization. In the object separation step, the belt holding surface 6a is swung upward while electrostatically attracting the single feed object (feed-out paper sheet Pa), and thus the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) is separated from the remaining stacked objects (remaining stacked paper sheets Pb) in the inclined separation having the inclined angle θ being upward with respect to the feed-out direction. In the peel-off feed-out step, the drive roller 7 is rotated while the belt holding surface 6a is inclined with respect to the remaining stacked objects (remaining stacked paper sheets Pb) and separated therefrom, and thus, the single feed-out object (single feed-out paper sheet Pa) electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a is peeled from the remaining stacked objects (remaining stacked paper sheets Pb) while being fed through the continuous peeling effect occurring at the interface S between the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) and the remaining stacked objects (remaining stacked paper sheets Pb), the interface having the inclined angle θ.

Accordingly, the peeling effect can be achieved in which the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) is separated from the remaining stacked objects (remaining stacked paper sheets Pb) and the peeling is performed while the operation force acting between both objects during the feeding-out is minimized.

EXAMPLE 2

Example 2 is an example in which a stacked object moving mechanism moving stacked objects upward and downward with respect to an electrostatic attraction belt set at a fixed position is used as the relative gap adjustment mechanism.

First, a configuration is described.

FIG. 13 is an overall schematic view showing a stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2. A schematic configuration of the apparatus will be described below based on FIG. 13.

As shown in FIG. 13, the stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2 includes: a paper sheet housing tray 1 (housing member), a paper sheet mounting stage 3, a stacked object moving mechanism 50 (relative gap adjustment mechanism), an electrostatic attraction belt 6, a drive roller 7, a driven roller 8, a business machine 9 (object processing apparatus), and a gap sensor 42. Note that, the paper sheet housing tray 1 is provided with a stopper plate portion 2′ formed at a paper sheet feed-out portion.

As shown in FIG. 13, the stacked object moving mechanism 50 is a mechanism which moves the paper sheet mounting stage 3 having stacked paper sheets P (stacked objects) mounted thereon upward and downward with respect to the electrostatic attraction belt 6 set at a fixed position. The stacked object moving mechanism 50 causes a single feed-out paper sheet Pa to be electrostatically attracted to a belt holding surface 6a by an upward movement of bringing the stacked paper sheets P close to or in contact with the belt holding surface 6a. Then, the stacked object moving mechanism 50 separates the single feed-out paper sheet Pa from the remaining stacked paper sheets Pb by a downward movement performed while the single feed-out paper sheet Pa is electrostatically attracted. Note that, the stacked object moving mechanism 50 includes a stacked object drive motor 44 as an upward-downward-drive actuator of the paper sheet mounting stage 3 (see FIG. 14).

The electrostatic attraction belt 6 is a feed-out device for the stacked paper sheets P which is passed around the drive roller 7 and the driven roller 8, and in which the belt holding surface 6a disposed fixedly and horizontally is located at a position facing an end portion region of the stacked paper sheets P on a feed-out side. This electrostatic attraction belt 6 allows the stacked paper sheets P stacked on the paper sheet housing tray 1 to be sequentially separated one by one from a feed-out paper sheet Pa at a surface position and then fed to the business machine 9 being an example of the object processing apparatus.

The gap sensor 42 is provided in the paper sheet housing tray 1, and is a non-contact type displacement amount detector which detects a gap between a position where the sensor is set and a position of an upper surface of the stacked paper sheets P. The gap is detected by using a time difference between an emission timing of a light wave or a sound wave and a reception timing of the reflected wave or by the like.

FIG. 14 is a control block diagram showing a feed-out control system of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2. A configuration of the feed-out control system will be described below based on FIG. 14.

As shown in FIG. 14, the feed-out control system of Example 2 includes a main switch 34, a feed-out start switch 35, a sheet number setting unit 36, the gap sensor 42, a sensor 9b, a feed-out controller 37, a motor driver 39, a feed-out drive motor 24, a motor driver 43, the stacked object drive motor 44, an electrostatic attraction control circuit 30, electrodes 28, and a dedicated power supply 41.

The feed-out controller 37 performs arithmetic processing in accordance with a set control program, on the basis of input information from the main switch 34, the feed-out start switch 35, the sheet number setting unit 36, the gap sensor 42, the sensor 9b, and the like. Then, a control instruction in accordance with the operation result is outputted to the motor drivers 39, 43 and the electrostatic attraction control circuit 30. Thus, a drive control of the feed-out drive motor 24 and the stacked object drive motor 44 and a control of voltage application and cancel of voltage application to the electrodes 28 are performed.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of feed-out control processing executed by the feed-out controller of the stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2. Steps in FIG. 15 are described below.

In Step S21, it is judged whether the feed-out start switch 35 is turned ON after the main switch 34 is operated to be ON. In a case of YES (feed start switch ON), the processing proceeds to Step S22, and in a case of NO (feed start switch OFF), the judgment of Step S21 is repeated.

Subsequent to the judgment that the feed-out start switch is ON in Step S21, to a judgment that Ga>Gao in Step S23, or to a judgment that n<no in Step S29, in Step S22, a drive instruction to lift the stacked paper sheets P is outputted to the stacked object drive motor 44. Then, the processing proceeds to Step S23.

Subsequent to the output of instruction to lift the stacked paper sheets P in Step S22, in Step S23, it is judged whether a gap value Ga detected by the gap sensor 42 is equal to or lower than a set value Gao (value in units of submillimeter at which the belt holding surface 6a can electrostatically attract the feed-out paper sheet Pa). In a case of YES (Ga≦Gao), the processing proceeds to Step S24, and in a case of NO (Ga>Gao), the processing proceeds to Step S22.

Subsequent to a judgment that Ga≦Gao in Step S23, in Step S24, an instruction to apply voltages to the multiple electrodes 28 is outputted. In addition, a chive instruction to lower the stacked paper sheets P by a predetermined amount is outputted to the stacked object drive motor 44. Then, the processing proceeds to Step S25.

Subsequent to the output of the chive instruction to lower the stacked paper sheets P in Step S24, or to a judgment that the drive pulse number<a third set value in Step S26, in Step S25, a roller drive instruction is outputted to the feed-out drive motor 24. Then, the processing proceeds to Step S26.

Subsequent to the output of the roller drive instruction in Step S25, in Step S26, it is judged whether the drive pulse number outputted to the feed-out drive motor 24 is equal to or larger than the third set value (value corresponding to the amount of time by which feeding out of the feed-out paper sheet Pa is completed). In a case of YES (drive pulse number≧the third set value), the processing proceeds to Step S27, and in a case of NC) (drive pulse number<the third set value), the processing returns to Step S25.

Subsequent to the stop of driving the drive roller 7 on the judgment that the drive pulse number≧the third set value in Step S26, in Step S27, an instruction to cut the voltages applied to the electrodes 28 is outputted. Then, the processing proceeds to step S28.

Subsequent to the cutting of the voltages applied to the electrodes 28 in Step S27, in Step 28, a feed-out paper sheet count number n is obtained by adding 1 to the previous feed-out paper sheet count number n. Then, the processing proceeds to Step S29.

Subsequent to the calculation of the feed-out paper sheet count number n in Step S28, in Step S29, it is judged whether the feed-out paper sheet count number n is equal to or larger than a set sheet number value no. In a case of YES (n≧no), the processing proceeds to an end, and in a case of NO (n<no), the processing proceeds to Step S22.

The set sheet number value no when the feed-out start switch is simply pressed is no=1 (initial value). When the set sheet number value no is set by the sheet number setting unit 36, the value thereof is that set by the operation.

Note that, other configurations are the same as those of Example 1. Thus, corresponding components are denoted with the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

Next, operations will be described.

FIG. 16 are views explaining a method of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2. FIG. 16A is a view showing a stand-by step. FIG. 16B is a view showing an electrostatic attraction step. FIG. 16C is a view showing an object separation step. FIG. 16D is a view showing a peel-off feed-out step. The method of feeding out stacked paper sheets will be described below based on FIG. 16.

In the method of feeding out stacked paper sheets of Example 2, the stacked paper sheets P stacked on the paper sheet housing tray 1 are separated one by one from a paper sheet at the surface, and are fed out to the business machine 9 being the object processing apparatus. In the method, the electrostatic attraction belt 6 which is passed around the drive roller 7 and the driven roller 8 and in which the multiple electrodes 28 are covered with the insulating layer 29 is used as a device for feeding out stacked paper sheets P. The method includes a stand-by step, an electrostatic attraction step, an object separation step, and a peel-off feed-out step as in the case of Example 1. The steps are described below.

(Stand-By Step)

As shown in FIG. 16A, in the stand-by step, the voltages applied to the multiple electrodes 28 are cut, and the upper surface of the stacked paper sheets P which is parallel to the belt holding surface 6a is separated with respect to the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6. At this time, the stopper plate 2 is set at the uppermost position.

(Electrostatic Attraction Step)

In the electrostatic attraction step, an upward movement of the stacked paper sheets P is performed in which the upper surface of the stacked paper sheet P which is parallel to the belt holding surface 6a is moved upward with respect to the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6. Thus, as shown in FIG. 16B, the upper surface of the stacked paper sheets P is brought close to or in contact with the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6. Then, the voltages are applied to the multiple electrodes 28, and thus only the single feed-out paper sheet Pa is electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a by surface polarization.

Specifically, when the feed-out start switch 35 is turned ON, processing proceeds from Step S21 to Step S22 and then to Step S23 in the flowchart of FIG. 15. During a period where the gap value Ga exceeds the set value Gao, a flow proceeding from Step S22 to Step S23 is repeated, and the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is brought closer to the upper surface of the stacked paper sheets P. Then, when the gap value Ga becomes equal to or lower than the set value Gao, the processing proceeds from Step S23 to Step S24, and the voltages are applied to the multiple electrodes 28.

(Object Separation Step)

In the object separation step, the downward movement of the stacked paper sheets P is performed in which the upper surface of the stacked paper sheets P parallel with the belt holding surface 6a is lowered with respect to the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 while the single feed-out paper sheet Pa is electrostatically attracted. Thus, as shown in FIG. 16C, the single feed-out paper sheet Pa is separated from the remaining stacked paper sheets Pb.

Specifically, when the gap value Ga becomes lower than the set value Gao, the processing proceeds from Step S23 to Step S24 in the flowchart of FIG. 15. Then, the instruction to apply voltages to the multiple electrodes 28 is outputted. In addition, the drive instruction to lower the stacked paper sheets P is outputted. Thus, the single feed-out paper sheet Pa is attracted, and is separated from the remaining stacked paper sheets Pb.

(Peel-Off Feed-Out Step)

In the peel-off feed-out step, the drive roller 7 is rotated while the remaining stacked paper sheets Pb is parallel to the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 and separated therefrom. Thus, as shown in FIG. 16D, the single feed-out paper sheet Pa electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a of the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is fed while being peeled from the remaining stacked paper sheets Pb through a continuous peeling effect occurring between the single feed-out object Pa and the remaining stacked sheets Pb.

Specifically, the processing proceeds from Step S24 to Step S25 in the flowchart of FIG. 15. In Step S25, a roller drive instruction is outputted. Until a feed-out completion condition of Step S26 is satisfied, the roller drive instruction is outputted and the application of voltages to the multiple electrodes 28 is maintained. Note that, other operations are the same as those of Example 1, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

Next, effects will be described.

The effects described below can be obtained by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A2 of Example 2, in addition to the effects of (1), (6), (7) of Example 1.

(9) The relative gap adjustment mechanism is the stacked object moving mechanism 50 which moves the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) upward and downward with respect to the electrostatic attraction belt 6 set at the fixed position. The stacked object moving mechanism 50 causes the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) to be electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface 6a by the upward movement of bringing the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) close to or in contact with the belt holding surface 6a. Then, the stacked object moving mechanism 50 causes the single feed-out object (feed-out paper sheet Pa) to be separated from the remaining stacked objects (remaining stacked paper sheets Pb) by the downward movement performed while the single feed-out object is electrostatically attracted.

Accordingly, the belt drive and the voltage application can be facilitated by fixedly setting the electrostatic attraction belt 6. This configuration is effective particularly in a case where the number of stacked objects is small and a burden on a drive system of the stacked object moving mechanism 50 can be made low.

EXAMPLE 3

Example 3 is a modified example in which a rotation link member is configured of a roller support different from the rotation link member of Example 1.

First, a configuration is described.

FIG. 17 are operation explanation views showing a control operation of feeding out stacked paper sheets which is performed by a stacked object feed-out apparatus A3 of Example 3. FIG. 17A shows the stand-by state. FIG. 17B shows attraction state. FIG. 17C shows the state when feeding-out is started. FIG. 17D shows the state during feeding-out. A configuration of a rotation link member 13 of Example 3 will be described below based on FIG. 17.

The rotation link member 13 of Example 3 includes third rotation links 13d, fourth rotation links 13e, first stopper holes 13g (angle restriction structure), and second stopper holes 13h (angle restriction structure). The third rotation links 13d are rotatable about a rotation axis CL. The fourth rotation links 13e are rotatable about a link shaft 13f provided at end portions of the third rotation links 13d, and rotatably supports a drive roller 7 and a driven roller 8 by roller shafts 7a and 8a, respectively. The first stopper holes 13g are opened in the third rotation links 13d to have a partial are shape, and the roller shaft 7a of the drive roller 7 is inserted therein. The second stopper holes 13h are opened in the third rotation links 13d to have a partial are shape, and the roller shaft 8a of the driven roller 8 is inserted therein.

At positions in an area around each of the second stopper holes 13h of the third rotation links 13d, a contact start detection switch 19 (contact state detector) and a contact end detection switch 20 (contact state detector) are provided which detect a contact state between a belt holding surface 6a and stacked paper sheets P from a change in an link angle formed by the third rotation link 13d and the fourth rotation link 13e.

Note that other configurations are the same as those of Example 1. Thus, corresponding components are denoted with the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

Next, operations will be described.

As shown in FIG. 17A, in Example 3, when the electrostatic attraction belt 6 is inclined with respect to the stacked paper sheets P and separated therefrom, the drive roller 7 and the driven roller 8 hang down due to its own weight, and the link angle is at the maximum angle. When the rotation link member 13 is lowered in this state and a contact between the belt holding surface 6a around the driven roller 8 and the stacked paper sheets P is started, the link angle tends to become smaller from the maximum angle. By detecting this, the contact start of the belt holding surface 6a to the stacked paper sheets P can be detected. Then, as shown in FIG. 17B, the link angle becomes the minimum angle when the rotation link member 13 is further lowered to totally place the belt holding surface 6a on the upper surface of the stacked paper sheets P. By detecting this, the total contact of the belt holding surface 6a with the stacked paper sheets P can be detected.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 17C and 17D, when the total contact of the belt holding surface 6a with the stacked paper sheets P is detected, the drive roller 7 and the driven roller 8 hang down by a total weight of the two rollers. Thus, an inclination angle θ being upward with respect to a feed-out direction is stably maintained when vibrations from the outside or a drive system are inputted. This high stability allows the single feed-out paper sheet Pa to be separated and fed out when vibrations are inputted due to high speed feed-out and the like. Note that, other operations are the same as those of Example 1, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

Next, effects will be described.

The effects described below can be obtained by the stacked object feed-out apparatus A3 of Example 3, in addition to the effects of (1) to (3), (5) to (8) of Example 1.

(10) The rotation link member 13 includes: the third rotation links 13d rotatable about the rotation axis CL; the fourth rotation links 13e which are rotatable about the link shaft 13f provided at the end portions of the third rotation links 13d and which rotatably support the drive roller 7 and the driven roller 8; and the angle restriction structure (first stopper holes 13g, second stopper holes 13h) which restricts the link angle formed by the third rotation links 13d and the fourth rotation links 13e within a set angle range. The electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 includes the contact state detector (contact start detection switch 19, contact end detection switch 20) which detects a contact state between the belt holding surface 6a and the stacked objects (stacked paper sheets P) from a change in the link angle formed by the third rotation links 13d and the fourth rotation links 13e.

Accordingly, even if the surface of the stacked paper sheets P is deformed, it can be accurately detected that the belt holding surface 6a is in contact with the topmost surface of the stacked paper sheets P. In addition, the switches can be used which are low in cost, but are high in operation reliability and durability compared to the deformation sensor or the like. In addition, a stable feeding operation against vibration input and the like can be secured by using the total weight of the drive roller 7 and the driven roller 8.

The stacked object feed-out apparatus and the method for feeding out stacked objects of the present invention have been described above based on Examples 1 to 3. However, specific configurations are not limited to these Examples. Changes and additions to the design are allowed within the gist of the invention according to the claims in Scope of Claims.

As the relative gap adjustment mechanism which adjusts the relative gap between the belt holding surface and the stacked objects, Examples 1 and 3 show examples of the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 which moves the belt holding surface upward and downward, and Example 2 shows an example of the stacked object moving mechanism 50 which moves the stacked objects upward and downward. However, an example in which both the belt holding surface and the stacked objects are moved may be employed as the relative gap adjustment mechanism. Moreover, the examples of the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism 10 are shown in which the mechanism swings upward and downward. However, an example may be employed such as a mechanism which moves upward and downward in parallel, or a mechanism which moves upward and downward along a movement track appropriately set in accordance with the steps.

In Examples 1 and 3, the contact start detection switch 19 and the contact end detection switch 20 are shown as the examples of the contact state detector, the switches 19, 20 provided respectively at positions in the angle restriction structure of the two rotation links. However, an example may be employed which uses a rotation angle sensor detecting an angle between the two rotation links, a roller position sensor detecting the position of a roller supported by the two rotation links, or the like.

In Examples 1 to 3, the examples are shown in which the drive motor is used as the drive actuator for upward and downward movement. However, for example, a fluid pressure cylinder using a fluid pressure (pneumatic pressure, oil pressure, or the like) may be used as the drive actuator for upward and downward movement.

In Examples 1 to 3, the examples are shown in which an object at the upper surface position of the stacked objects stacked on the housing member is separated one by one from the stacked objects, and is fed out to the object processing apparatus. However, a configuration is possible in which an object at the lower surface position of the stacked objects stacked on the housing member is separated one by one from the stacked objects, and is fed out to the object processing apparatus.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In Examples 1 to 3, the stacked paper sheets are shown as an example of the stacked objects. However, the present invention can be applied to a feed-out apparatus for, for example, stacked resin sheets, stacked cloth sheets, stacked metal sheets, and the like, in addition to the stacked paper sheets. In Examples 1 to 3, the business machine (printer, scanner, copying machine, or the like) is shown as an example of the object processing apparatus. However, the object processing apparatus includes apparatuses other than the business machine. For example, such apparatuses include an apparatus which performs different types of processing on a single separated object in accordance with the object's color, shape, pattern, and the like depending on the stacked objects, and an apparatus which forms a single separated object into a semi-finished product or a finished product by performing a cutting process or a press working process.

Claims

1. A stacked object feed-out apparatus which separates and feeds out stacked objects one by one from an object at a surface position, the stacked objects being stacked on a housing member, the apparatus characterized in that the stacked object feed-out apparatus includes:

an electrostatic attraction belt which is passed around a drive roller and a driven roller and in which a plurality of electrodes are covered with an insulating layer;

an electrostatic attraction control circuit which is connected to the plurality of electrodes, which induces surface polarization on a surface of each of the objects by applying a voltage, and which causes the surface of the object to return to an original state without the surface polarization by cutting the applied voltage;

an object feed-out mechanism which feeds out by belt rotation a feed-out object electrostatically attracted to a belt holding surface of the electrostatic attraction belt; and

a relative gap adjustment mechanism which brings the belt holding surface and the stacked objects close to or in contact with each other in the attraction and moves the belt holding surface and the stacked objects away from each other in the feed-out by adjusting a relative gap between the belt holding surface and the stacked objects.

2. The stacked object feed-out apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that

the relative gap adjustment mechanism is an electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism which moves the belt holding surface of the electrostatic attraction belt upward and downward, and

the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism causes a single feed-out object to be electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface by a downward movement of bringing the belt holding surface dose to or in contact with the stacked objects, and causes the single feed-out object to be separated from a remaining stacked object by an upward movement performed while the single feed-out object is electrostatically attracted.

3. The stacked object feed-out apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that

the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism is a mechanism which has a rotation axis set parallel to, and at a position on a feed-out or opposite side, of roller shafts of the two rollers, and which swings the belt holding surface of the electrostatic attraction belt upward and downward by a rotation link member rotatably supporting both ends of each of the two rollers, and

the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism causes the belt holding surface to be inclined with respect to the stacked objects and separated therefrom by swinging the belt holding surface upward while the single feed-out object is electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface, and thus separates the single feed-out object from the remaining stacked object, the single feed-out object made to have an inclined angle upward with respect to the feed-out direction.

4. The stacked object feed-out apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that

the rotation link member includes a first rotation link which is rotatable about the rotation axis and which rotatably supports the drive roller, a second rotation link which is rotatable about the roller shaft of the drive roller and which rotatably supports the driven roller, and an angle restricting structure which restricts a link angle formed by the first rotation link and the second rotation link within a set angle range, and

the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism includes a contact state detector which detects a contact state between the belt holding surface and the stacked objects from a change in the link angle formed by the first rotation link and the second rotation link.

5. The stacked object feed-out apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a stopper mechanism is provided at a position of a feed-out end portion of the stacked objects, the stopper mechanism preventing feed out of the remaining stacked object at least during a period from a start of feed-out of the object to an end of feed-out.

6. The stacked object feed-out apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that

the relative gap adjustment mechanism is a stacked object moving mechanism which moves the stacked objects upward and downward, and

the stacked object moving mechanism causes a single feed-out object to be electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface by an upward movement of bringing the stacked objects close to or in contact with the belt holding surface, and causes the single feed-out object to be separated from a remaining stacked object by a downward movement performed while the single feed-out object is electrostatically attracted.

7. The stacked object feed-out apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that

the rotation link member includes a third rotation link rotatable about the rotation axis, a fourth rotation link which is rotatable about a link shaft provided in an end portion of the third rotation link and which rotatably supports the drive roller and the driven roller, and an angle restricting structure which restricts a link angle formed by the third rotation link and the fourth rotation link within a set angle range, and

the electrostatic attraction belt moving mechanism includes a contact state detector which detects a contact state between the belt holding surface and the stacked objects from a change in the link angle formed by the third rotation link and the fourth rotation link.

8. The stacked object feed-out apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the stacked objects are stacked paper sheets stacked on the housing member.

9. A method of feeding out stacked objects in which stacked objects stacked on a housing member are separated and fed out one by one from an object at a surface position, the method characterized in that

an electrostatic attraction belt which is passed around a drive roller and a driven roller and in which a plurality of electrodes are covered with an insulating layer is used as a stacked object feed-out device, and

the method includes:

a stand-by step of cutting a voltage applied to the plurality of electrodes, and of relatively separating a belt holding surface and the stacked objects from each other;

an electrostatic attraction step of bringing the belt holding surface and the stacked objects relatively close to or in contact with each other, and applying the voltage to the plurality of electrodes to electrostatically attract only a single feed-out object to the belt holding surface by surface polarization;

an object separation step of moving the belt holding surface and the stacked objects relatively away from each other to separate the single feed-out object electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface from a remaining stacked object; and

a peel-off feed-out step of peeling the single feed-out object electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface from the remaining stacked object and feeding out the single feed-out object by rotation of the drive roller, while the belt holding surface and the stacked objects are relatively separated from each other.

10. The method of feeding out the stacked objects according to claim 9, characterized in that

in the stand-by step, the voltage applied to the plurality of electrodes is cut, and the belt holding surface is separated from the stacked objects,

in the electrostatic attraction step, the belt holding surface is brought into contact with the stacked objects by moving the belt holding surface downward, and the voltage is applied to the plurality of electrodes to electrostatically attract only the single feed-out object to the belt holding surface by surface polarization,

in the object separation step, the belt holding surface is moved upward while electrostatically attracting the single feed-out object, and thus the single feed-out object is separated from the remaining stacked object in an inclined separation having an inclined angle upward with respect to a feed-out direction, and

in the peel-off feed-out step, the drive roller is rotated while the belt holding surface is inclined with respect to the remaining stacked object and separated therefrom, and thus the single feed-out object electrostatically attracted to the belt holding surface is fed out while being peeled from the remaining stacked object, through a continuous peeling effect occurring at an interface between the single feed-out object and the remaining stacked object, the interface having an inclined angle.